MARRYING MY STEP BROTHER

abeth

while tears streamed down my face. James had left for work an hour ago, kiss

elry my grandmother had left me-nothing James had given me. My docum

suitcase felt like another

hours before James came home. Five hours to

kitchen table with a blank piece of pape

e it. Had to

, and the words poure

am

uture. But you chose to build another family behind my back. I found the phot

built on deception. I won't let her le

You made your choice.

iza

he letter. Tears dropped onto the pape

that meant nothing-and placed it on top of the let

the afternoon light, mo

ow, looking up at me with those innocent eyes, c

baby girl," I whispered, ho

the house-our home, the place where I'd believed

't loo

ree states away where my mother lived. Helen cried in my

king her gently. "It's okay. Mama'

rying against my shoulder, my suitcases heavy i

he window at the city disappearing behind us-the city w

my husband had

e," I w

.

Perso

than usual but earlier than the past few weeks. He'd been working on closin

mood. Excellent

oses for Elizabeth, and a stuffed bunny for He

d I have a surprise!" he

le

his briefcase and the g

would be crying or cooing, and Elizabe

ng room, the dining room,

s voice rose wi

s two at a time. "El

as empty. The n

to creep int

saw it-the piece of paper on the kitchen tabl

eddin

o, no

s he picked up th

ace went paler. His b

uild another family

he pho

our so

thed. "Oh God, no

gave out. He collapsed onto the kitchen floor, h

otos. She'd seen K

breaking. "No, you don't und

against his eyes, h

man. She didn't know the truth-that Kelvin was adopted, that the woman was his nurse,

r twins. A boy and a g

s gone. They w

house, tears streaming down his face. "El

at her neat handwriting expre

d as he whispere

... he's